15:00 Ayr

Friday 2 January 2026

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Quiz Night At Golf Inn Prestwick Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 5m 33.39s

Johnson's Blue³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 129| D

40/1

Eight-time winner over hurdles and left his reappearance run behind when only narrowly denied at Hexham In June. However, his subsequent efforts have been very poor and he unseated rider in a match on his sole previous start in this sphere.

Form: 10/02P8

Junker D'allier^t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 126

7/2

Fairly useful 3-time novice hurdle winner last season. Bettered his reappearance/chase debut effort when third in a 5-runner Carlisle beginners' chase (2m, soft) at the end of November. This step back up in trip may help and he's one to consider.

Form: 1P41-43

Jipcot^t²⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 126| D

6/1

Back to very best following wind surgery when readily landing a Newbury handicap hurdle last December. No show in Grade 3 handicaps in that sphere at the big spring festivals but resumes in this sphere on a potentially handy mark and is an interesting contender.

Form: 71340P-

Cloonainra⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Paddy Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 126

9/1

Fairly useful over hurdles and ran to a similar level in justifying support in 7-runner mares' novice at Listowel (19.4f, good to soft) on debut in September. Struggled in a Cheltenham novice next time but this Irish raider is accorded respect on her handicap bow in this sphere.

Form: 2515-15

Karafon^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Ewing| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 123

7/1

Won Clonmel maiden hurdle for Willie Mullins last December but has found things harder since, failing to fire both starts for new yard since returning to action in November. Safely held sole previous start in this sphere and, though likely to do better over fences in time, others look stronger here.

Form: 70F-779

Captain Butler²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 122

9/2

Point winner who landed a Newcastle bumper and Kelso maiden hurdle for Pauline Robson. Good start for this yard when runner-up on return in a handicap hurdle here in November and entitled to step up on subsequent chase debut at Aintree where his jumping let him down in the second half of the race.

Form: 11/15-26

Young Jack²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Ryan Mania| T: C Grant| OR: 120| D

4/1

Mixed record over hurdles last season but managed to win twice and he pulled clear of the rest when second on return/chase debut at Kelso (23.4f, soft). Open to improvement in this sphere and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 10P39-2

Great Pepper⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlotte Jones| T: James Moffatt| OR: 119| D

22/1

Dual hurdles winner who was a respectable third on chase debut in a Carlisle novice handicap last February. However, he's failed to complete both starts since and now finds himself with a bit to prove.

Form: 1PP/3-PU

Milcree⁶²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 115

6/1

Off the mark at third attempt over hurdles at Carlisle in April 2024 and wasn't disgraced in a handicap here later that month. Absent since but this former point winner looks a real chasing type and it'll be interesting to see how he shapes up in the betting.

Form: 13216/

Non-Runners

Big John Wayne⁴⁴³

Weight: 10-12| Age: 8

T: L Russell & M Scudamore J: P W Wadge

Forecasts

Junker D'allier (7/2), Young Jack (4/1), Captain Butler (9/2), Big John Wayne (5/1), Milcree (6/1), Jipcot (6/1), Karafon (7/1), Cloonainra (9/1), Great Pepper (22/1), Johnson's Blue (40/1)

The pick of several plausible candidates is YOUNG JACK, who ended last term on a downer over hurdles but he made a very bright start to this season when runner-up on chase debut at Kelso. Jipcot performed with credit on his latest start in this sphere and needs considering off an attractive mark, while Captain Butler should improve on what he showed on his first start over fences at Aintree. Junker d'Allier also has claims and chase debutant Big John Wayne needs a second look, too.